Riverbend

Independent Assessment

Riverbend is a genuinely age-restricted 55+ community, explicitly marketed as 'Active Adult 55+' by both builders active there. Two separate national builders -- Gemcraft Homes (which began the project in 2021) and Lennar (marketing its own townhome section) -- appear to be building within the same named community; it is not fully clear whether these are two phases of one master-planned Riverbend, or two builders each developing a distinct parcel under the same community name, and buyers should clarify this directly with the HOA or both builders. One Lennar page also labels the community's region as 'New Castle / Kent County, DE,' which is treated as a Lennar internal sales-region naming quirk rather than an actual Kent County location, since every other source (address, proximity to Old New Castle and the Delaware River, New Castle City government records) places Riverbend unambiguously in New Castle, New Castle County.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Buyers who want new-construction, gated 55+ living directly on the Delaware River, close to historic Old New Castle, with a choice between Gemcraft Homes' single-family/villa product and Lennar's townhomes, are a strong fit for Riverbend.

Homes, Builders & Development History

Gemcraft Homes began construction of Riverbend in 2021, planning approximately 200 homes: single-family residences and attached villas ranging from about 1,420 to 2,390 square feet, with two to three bedrooms and two to three baths. Lennar has since joined the community with its own townhome offerings. The combined, reconciled total home count and current build-out status across both builders could not be verified.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

Current pricing for either the Gemcraft Homes or Lennar sections of Riverbend was not found. Buyers should request current pricing directly from both builders and recent closed comparables from a local agent familiar with the New Castle market.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

Riverbend is an active, ongoing new-construction community as of the last update, with both Gemcraft Homes and Lennar building. Buyers should confirm current builder availability, pricing, and delivery timelines directly with each builder, and request full details on which HOA and warranty terms apply to their specific section.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Homes at Riverbend are subject to New Castle County and City of New Castle property tax as applicable. New Castle County completed its first property reassessment since 1983 for the 2025 tax year, following a Delaware Court of Chancery ruling, and revised tax bills went out in late 2025 amid legal challenges -- buyers should confirm a property's current, post-reassessment tax figure directly with New Castle County. Delaware residents age 60+ can exclude $12,500 of retirement income from state tax, Social Security income is exempt, and Delaware has no state or local sales tax.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

Riverbend offers a gated, riverfront 55+ lifestyle centered on a clubhouse with an indoor pool and fitness center, an outdoor deck, and walking paths and trails, with a secure entrance offering added peace of mind for residents who travel or split time between homes.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

Riverbend is located in New Castle, New Castle County, Delaware, along the Delaware River just minutes from historic Old New Castle, about a 10-minute drive to Wilmington and roughly 45 minutes to Philadelphia International Airport.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

Riverbend is explicitly marketed as an 'Active Adult 55+' community by both Gemcraft Homes and Lennar. The community's own recorded deed-restriction or governing-document language has not been independently reviewed. Delaware's legal baseline for age-restricted housing relies on the federal HOPA 80/20 occupancy framework, with no state-specific wrinkle found. Buyers should confirm current age-verification procedures directly with the association.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Because Riverbend involves two separate builders, buyers should confirm precisely which section, floor plans, pricing, and HOA structure apply to a given phase, and should not assume terms are identical between the Gemcraft Homes and Lennar sections. A current HOA fee, a reconciled total planned home count across both builders, and current pricing could not be confirmed.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Like The Cascades in Newark, Riverbend represents a newer wave of production-builder (Lennar) active-adult development in New Castle County, though it is unusual in also involving a second builder (Gemcraft Homes) within the same named community.

Current Listings

Gemcraft Homes and Lennar can each provide current available new-construction homes, and a connected local agent can provide any resale inventory and recent closed comparables, at Riverbend.

Is Riverbend age-restricted?

Yes, both builders active in the community explicitly market it as 'Active Adult 55+.' Confirm current age-qualification standards directly with the association, as the community's own recorded governing-document language was not independently reviewed.

Who is building Riverbend?

Gemcraft Homes began construction in 2021 (single-family homes and attached villas); Lennar has since joined the community with its own townhome offerings. Whether these are phases of one community or two builders on distinct parcels could not be fully reconciled.

Is Riverbend in New Castle or Kent County?

New Castle, New Castle County. One Lennar page labels the region 'New Castle / Kent County, DE,' which appears to be a builder sales-region naming quirk rather than the community's actual location -- every other source places it unambiguously in New Castle, New Castle County, along the Delaware River.

What amenities does Riverbend offer?

A clubhouse with an indoor pool and fitness center, an outdoor deck, walking paths and trails, and a secure gated entrance.